Gordian III - EASTERN MINT - AEQUITAS - Antioch?

So were you going to post your thoughts on the grades and values of those three Doug?

 

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No, I wasn't. I wondered what other people see as significant. To me the last two are about equal but one has better separation of the ear from the crown while the other has a more even reverse. I suppose either would be VF to most people but neither qualifies under strict standards. I believe it is ridiculous to have strict rules like the ear to be a grade but a lot of people would be very bothered by the middle coin in that respect. The top coin is a ringer and worth twice the other two IMHO not because it is in good condition but because it is the rare type with PM under the bust. It has a terribly flat struck reverse and was not worth the price I overpaid for it but the obverse is nice compared to most PM under coins I have seen and it was the first that I was able to buy at any price. 99% of collectors would not care about this minor variety so the chance of it ever selling for what I paid is not great. Probably 90% of dealer don't distinguish between the types when selling although they are listed in RIC. Forvm Ancient coins had several lower grade ones last year but I have not found examples of the other two types as nice as this one so I think RIC might have underestimated them at just R when they called the regular ones S.

I prefer the middle coin as better balanced but te bottom is not a bad coin for these.

 

I was surprised a little that you thought netiher were VF understrict standards. I consider myself fairly strict, but thought coin two, when all things are balanced, was quite easily a gVF. I simply do not often see middle silver better struck than that. You are completely right that any one or any two items can never be taken as absolute, but even in US grading this is not true though they throw that out for new collectors to "get the idea" of the level of preservation they are talking about. Mechanically struck coins are fairly easy to grade in comparison to these.

Well, I thought you had a ringer in there somewhere. I noticed the marks below the bust but without collecting these did not know any significance.

 

Ah yeah.... I didn't notice that the top one was the 'PM' below the bust type.... definitely worth more in my opinion too. I have yet to aquire any with the 'PM' below the bust not for lack of trying though.

They are all nice examples doug, I do like the middle one due to it's centering, and the top one because of the 'PM' below the bust, I am surprised at myself for not noticing that earlier.... but they are all very nice examples IMO.... I am still curious as to the weight of them.... as I said, that would have an influence on the price I would be willing to pay for such coins.

Medoraman, check out how well centered this Rome mint Gordian III Antoninianus is.... it is one of my favorite coins because of that.... its also struck on very large flan, weighing 5.10 grams, note the size of it with a quarter next to it. The reverse is 'VICTORIA AETERNA' and has Victory standing resting her sheild on the back of a captive.... seems the reverse was a bit weakly struck.... a price we sometimes pay for such a nicely struck obverse it seems.... I just love this particular coin though, I have another Gordian III from AD 238 that I like more with Victoria Aug reverse, and a young interesting Gordian III portrait.